News and notes from the Grand Forks Herald's Brad Elliott Schlossman

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CC hires Haviland

Colorado College has hired longtime pro coach Mike Haviland to succeed Scott Owens at the helm.

Haviland comes from the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears, where he was the head coach for one season.

Most notably, Haviland served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks during their 2010 Stanley Cup season. He also won two championships as a head coach in the East Coast Hockey League.

Haviland, who played at Elmira College, will have a rebuilding project on his hands as Colorado College finished seventh place in the NCHC last season.

The Tigers have a promising young defensive corps but will need to re-discover some dynamic threats up front, which was CC’s method of operation when it had successful teams in the WCHA during the last decade.

I would have to think with his addition to the NCHC coaching staff, this league has got be the best coached league in the Nation. Look at the staff around the league and you will see a lot of NHL experience or coaches that the NHL most certainly is keeping an eye on. Coach Blasi turned around a Miami team and made them into a National Title contending team every year. Hakstol, well… If you don’t think he is a good coach and could not find himself a position on an NHL coaching staff please discontinue reading right now! Murray, Blais, Haviland all have NHL experience… Sandelin has been excellent (was on staff at UND for 2 Natty’s 97 & 2000) winning one for Duluth and representing USA on the big stage. Motzko from the Cloud had the privilege of working under Herb Brooks for a time and has been instrumental in making them a contender every year. Montgomery for Denver played in the NHL and has won it all as a coach in the USHL. My guess is he will do fine in the NCHC, maybe the most under-qualified coach in the NCHC as far as making it to the show (NHL). Looks like a pretty good group though eh’

Now I know there are some other league’s out there with some big name coaches and maybe I am a little biased towards them but is there really another league that compares? If NHL is the standard for comparison, I just don’t see how any do…